Bewick:
Looks to me like we could have another Big J 8LXB scenario developing here!!! Cheers Bewick.
No we haven’t Dennis - just smart alecs who won’t accept they don’t know everything. Ring any bells with you??
For the sake of argument, I never knew ‘Diana’ had a semi-auto gearbox, but I knew of it’s existence for many years and that Bill Molyneux was involved in the procurement of it & others. I also knew about the Marathon with the sheet over it and where it was - but never knew it was a turbine motor with a pre-select box. That said, I would never dispute it because I’d like to think other people can educate me with their knowledge without having to resort to insulting them first. You (and a few others on here) should try it sometime - you might gain a little respect.
Thats put “cat amongst the pigeons” Marky,tin hats at the ready I fear!!!
norfolk:
So seeing that we are in this debate for the : Long Haul : heres another one for you : Standing out side for many years was an old blue Leyland Marathon (this wasnt at Leyland by the way ) in winter it had a sheet thrown over it , hundreds of people walked past it every day, taking not the slightest bit of notice, it looked just like an ordinary marathon except it had a strange box upthe back of the cab approx 3ft long 1ft deep and the top stuck up just above the top of the cab, air intake? … On climbing inside the layout was exactly the same as any marathon except for two things , it didnt have a gearlever coming out of the floor it had ; you guested it a semi auto box ! the other thing was ; in the centre of the cab sat a set of gauges two large ones had Boost pressure and Fuel pressure whilst a third said Turbine temp. When you got out and looked at the box at the back of the cab you found it was the exhaust for the Gas tubine that lived underneath, Ah all you experts shout they only built 2/3 they all had the ergo cab ,1 is in the Leyland Museam , one is owned by Mr Thomas and the other was owned by Shell or somthing. Did it run oh yes it did ! the last man who took it out was called Barry … (Ill keep you on your toes for his full name ) he had it out on public roads when he stalled it and had to be towed back in , where it stood out side until approx 6yrs ago when it was moved inside and for a time even more people walked past it never giving it a second glance. So you see lads (experts) somtimes you get it wrong ,the thing is it takes B… to admit it.
Was it the same gas turbine Marathon that was kept in the Jag/Rover/Triumph spares factory at Honeybourne next to Long Lartin prison? That would have been late 70’s, that one definitely ran
Bewick:
Looks to me like we could have another Big J 8LXB scenario developing here!!! Cheers Bewick.
No we haven’t Dennis - just smart alecs who won’t accept they don’t know everything. Ring any bells with you??
For the sake of argument, I never knew ‘Diana’ had a semi-auto gearbox, but I knew of it’s existence for many years and that Bill Molyneux was involved in the procurement of it & others. I also knew about the Marathon with the sheet over it and where it was - but never knew it was a turbine motor with a pre-select box. That said, I would never dispute it because I’d like to think other people can educate me with their knowledge without having to resort to insulting them first. You (and a few others on here) should try it sometime - you might gain a little respect.
Thats put “cat amongst the pigeons” Marky,tin hats at the ready I fear!!!
David
Knackers to em Dave. I’d rather say it as it is than sit here watching another round of ignorant cynicism. Some people would do well to remember that they haven’t seen & done everything, despite constantly trying to make it look like they have. I’ve been on here for quite a while now & there have been plenty of ‘mouthpieces’ been & gone in that time. Good grace and a bit of respect cost nowt and the ability to let other people have their say without ripping them to shreds seem a difficult one to attain for certain members. The tired excuse of “it’s just a bit of banter” is just that - an excuse. If a stranger in a pub tore you to shreds after overhearing your conversation, you wouldn’t automatically assume “it’s just a bit of banter”, so it shouldn’t be assumed that’s the case on here; this is the internet equivalent of a pub full of conversations after all.
I’ve said my piece & got it off my chest. Last word on the subject.
With regarding the Marathon its possible it was the one from Honeybourne because it isnt a million miles from Coventry where i first came across it. It has to be at least 7 /8 years when i was moving heavy demolition gear 360,s ect around the city, it was parked up at the back of the transport museum and i was dropping mac hines off in the same yard, at the same time i was doing some research on avehicle i was restoring and i got to know people there rather well and to be honest they wernt that intrested in it ( Cov Museum seem to have more intrest in cars ,moter bikes ect ) it seemed surplus to requirements and it stood there in all weathers and had for a time. I found out it still ran and the last time it was on the road was when it was taken out on Cov ring rd where it stalled causing clouds of white smoke billowing skywards and after that it was towed back and just left. I made an offer to take it ( free of charge ) to the Classic Com show at Gaydon ( this would be either the 1st or 2nd time it had been held there ) but the powers that be although listening to myself and others wouldnt play ball. ( i rekon a lot of people would have been over the moon to see it ). So it continued to stand outside until approx 4yrs ago i noticed they had moved it and stuck it in a corner just inside the front door ( no exhibit card on it nothing) were hundreds of people walked past unaware of what it was , ignored again it didnt even look part of the show , i beleive that its since been moved again ( it wouldnt take a lot to find out were ) shame really cos its a hell of a piece of history and im assured from a good source it still runs.Thanks to lads for your support hope you find this interesting
Bewick:
Looks to me like we could have another Big J 8LXB scenario developing here!!! Cheers Bewick.
No we haven’t Dennis - just smart alecs who won’t accept they don’t know everything. Ring any bells with you??
For the sake of argument, I never knew ‘Diana’ had a semi-auto gearbox, but I knew of it’s existence for many years and that Bill Molyneux was involved in the procurement of it & others. I also knew about the Marathon with the sheet over it and where it was - but never knew it was a turbine motor with a pre-select box. That said, I would never dispute it because I’d like to think other people can educate me with their knowledge without having to resort to insulting them first. You (and a few others on here) should try it sometime - you might gain a little respect.
Thats put “cat amongst the pigeons” Marky,tin hats at the ready I fear!!!
David
Knackers to em Dave. I’d rather say it as it is than sit here watching another round of ignorant cynicism. Some people would do well to remember that they haven’t seen & done everything, despite constantly trying to make it look like they have. I’ve been on here for quite a while now & there have been plenty of ‘mouthpieces’ been & gone in that time. Good grace and a bit of respect cost nowt and the ability to let other people have their say without ripping them to shreds seem a difficult one to attain for certain members. The tired excuse of “it’s just a bit of banter” is just that - an excuse. If a stranger in a pub tore you to shreds after overhearing your conversation, you wouldn’t automatically assume “it’s just a bit of banter”, so it shouldn’t be assumed that’s the case on here; this is the internet equivalent of a pub full of conversations after all.
I’ve said my piece & got it off my chest. Last word on the subject.
Dave the Renegade:
At least with The Long Haul and Hell Drivers,they used some proper working lorries.In the Sweeney,all I ever saw was Regan driving a Ford D series 7.5 ton furniture wagon or a luton bodied transit.
Hell Drivers is on BBC 2 this Sunday 6.30 in the morning
I remember being in digs in Birkenhead in about 1970 with about 20 other drivers. We were all watching a TV movie about some stolen goods. The truck was supposed to have 20 tons on and when the driver braked, the trailer wheels locked up immediately and smoke rose from the rear of the trailer.
Every driver laughed immediately, and a ‘rep’ who was in the same digs asked ‘what’s funny?’
Tankerman:
I copied the video on to DVD years ago and took some screen shots from it.
Who the [zb] sheeted and roped that Octopus?,Victor by the looks of it,well they had to make it authentic I suppose,it had to blend in and look like many other Scouse motors at the time ! Cheers Bewick.
The long haul, starring Victor Mature & Diana Dors.
I see the film is now on dvd, has anyone seen a copy and is it ok?
I last saw the film in the early 70’s, who can remember the motor he drove? was it an Octopus? i know someone can tell me!
i saw that film many years ago , but i don’t remember much of the plot . i spent most of the film laughing at the antics of "lorry driver " mature , cracking footage of the old octopus though , best part of the film , cheers , dave
rigsby:
i saw that film many years ago , but i don’t remember much of the plot . i spent most of the film laughing at the antics of "lorry driver " mature , cracking footage of the old octopus though , best part of the film , cheers , dave
Hiya rigsby…remember where bullers was on the A53 just past stockton brook you went through a cutting
if you turned left at the cross roads thats where Alan Lakes dad lived(Diana was married to Lake) just a little
down there was a pub(the foxley)Diana and Alan used to come and have a pint with all the drivers that got in
the pub a christmas eve they sometimes come in on a night time… we had a great laugh with them.
John
STEVE OWEN:
The long haul, starring Victor Mature & Diana Dors.
I see the film is now on dvd, has anyone seen a copy and is it ok?
I last saw the film in the early 70’s, who can remember the motor he drove? was it an Octopus? i know someone can tell me!
i got a copy last year did have a good laugh i think leyland used it as a promotional film for a while a bloke was advertising old films in the classic commercial mag
